Double impatiens plant Balfiepuna

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens named Balfiepuna, characterized by its fully double purple flowers, upright and mounded habit, excellent basal branching and dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct DoubleImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens wallerana, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Balfiepuna.

[0002] The new cultivar was developed by the inventor through acontrolled breeding program in Elbum, Ill. The objective of the breedingprogram was the creation of impatiens cultivars which exhibit large,fully double flowers, are free-flowering and have a vigorousself-branching habit.

[0003] The female (seed) parent of Balfiepuna was the proprietaryImpatiens wallerana cultivar designated 573-1-3-1 which exhibits amedium to vigorous habit and single, slightly cupped coral-rose flowers.The male (pollen) parent of Balfiepuna was the proprietary Impatienswallerana cultivar designated 3020-3-1-1 which exhibits a vigorous loosehabit, and large semi-double violet flowers.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by two or threevegetative node stem cuttings has demonstrated that the characteristicsof the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

[0006] (a) exhibits attractive double purple flowers,

[0007] (b) forms dark green foliage,

[0008] (c) exhibits a good basal branching character and

[0009] (d) exhibits a upright mounded growth habit.

[0010] The new cultivar of the present invention can be compared toRosebud Purple Magic. In side by side comparisons it is found that thenew cultivar is slightly more compact, has longer peduncles, longerleaves and darker flower color as detailed in TABLE A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0011] The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of thistype, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar.The plants were grown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The Balfiepuna cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such astemperature, light intensity, and day length.

[0013] The chart used in the identification of colors described hereinis the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. The color values were determined on Aug. 30, 2000 between 3:00and 3:45 p.m. under natural daylight conditions. The plants wereproduced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepoly carbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice while utilizing a soilless growth medium andmaintaining temperatures of approximately 72° F. during the day andapproximately 65° F. during the night.

[0014] Classification: x

[0015]Botanical.—Impatiens wallerana cultivar Balfiepuna.

[0016]Commercial.—Double Impatiens.

[0017] Parentage: Proprietary seedling 573-1-3-1 (seed).x. proprietaryseedling 3020-3-1-1 (pollen)

[0018] Propagation:

[0019]Type cutting.—Two or three vegetative node stem cutting from nearthe center of plant.

[0020]Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7-14 days with the shortertimes generally being experienced in the summer and the longer times inthe winter.

[0021]Time to form roots.—Approximately 21 days.

[0022]Root Description.—Fibrous, branching.

[0023] Plant Description:

[0024]Form.—Upright and mounded.

[0025]Habit of growth.—Compact with good basal branching. A matureplant, at 8 weeks after planting of rooted cutting, commonly measuresapproximately 16.9 cm in height and approximately 31 cm in width.

[0026]Branching habit.—Basal branching.

[0027]Foliage.—Shape: Ovate with acute apex, attenuate base and serrate,ciliate margin. Size: Fully expanded leaves are approximately 5.1 cm inlength and approximately 3.1 cm in width. Color of fully expandedleaves: Upper surface slightly darker than 137A, lower surface 138B withblotches of 184A. Petiole length is 1.4 cm.

[0028]Stem.—Color: 147C with overlay of 184A. Internode length isapproximately 2.3 cm,

[0029] Flower Description:

[0030]Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.

[0031]Natural flowering season.—Year round in greenhouse environment andspring until fall in the garden.

[0032]Flowers borne.—Above foliage arising from leaf axils.

[0033]Quantity of flowers.—Approximately 2 flowers and 2 buds per stem.

[0034]Flower diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.

[0035]Petals.—Shape: Round to ovate, emarginate tip, slightly cupped.Number: 21 per flower.

[0036]Flower color.—Fully opened flowers: Upper surface between 71B and80A, lower surface 71B at edge and 70B in center. Very tiny area of 155Dat attachment point.

[0037]Spur.—Size: Approximately 3 cm in length, 154D with overlay of184A and dark purple tip.

[0038]Peduncle length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.

[0039]Reproductive organs.—There tend to be no remaining reproductiveorgans. Occasional naked ovaries and occasional sterile, faciatedstamen-like structures.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens wallerana namedBalfiepuna substantially as herein shown and described, which: (a)exhibits attractive, double purple flowers, (b) forms dark greenfoliage, (c) exhibits a good basal branching character and (d) exhibitsa upright mounded growth habit. TABLE A ROSEBUD PURPLE CHARACTERISTICBALFIEPUNA MAGIC PLANT HEIGHT 16.9 CM 17.4 CM LEAF LENGTH × WIDTH  5.1CM × 3.1 CM  4.4 CM × 3 CM PEDUNCLE LENGTH  1.7 CM  1.3 CM FLOWER COLOR-BETWEEN 71B 74A UPPER SURFACE AND 80A